Adjustable garment hanger



Aug. 18, 1-959 D. \IELTRY ADJUSTMENT GARMENT HANGER Filed Jan. 11, 1956 flu 3 TH. N m m M v M A W W 0 M m S T T 0w TIHHJ \1 mm w a s Q mv 8 Q zo Q Ii/ a a s United States 2,900,117 Patented Aug. 18, 1959 tice This invention relates broadly to hangers whereby apparel may be suspended for display or storage and more particularly to a hanger which may be expanded or retracted longitudinally to selectively accommodate apparel of different sizes.

In establishments where apparel is displayed upon garment hangers and in the home Where apparel is stored upon hangers, the problem of accommodating apparel of different sizes has frequently arisen. This problem is partly solved by procuring hangers of different sizes for apparel of different sizes. This however is not a satisfactory solution because (1) it necessitates the purchase of many hangers, which is an unnecessary expenditure of money and (2) because it requires the setting aside of valuable space in which to store such hangers.

With this in mind, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a hanger for apparel, the body member of which may be selectively expanded or retracted longitudinally so as to accommodate garments of different sizes.

And it is a further object of the present invention to provide a garment hanger of this character, wherein the expanded or retracted body member is instantly and automatically retained in any of its adjusted positions.

And a yet further purpose of the present invention resides in the provision of a hanger of this character, wherein the expanding and retracting means is spring controlled, so that there is no necessity for removing or replacing any parts to retain the body member in adjusted position.

And a yet further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an adjustable garment hanger, which is easy to use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Theseand other meritorious aims and advantages, which will become more fully apparent as the description hereof proceeds, are attained by the construction, combination and arrangement of few and simple parts, hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a material component of the present disclosure, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view partly in section of a garment hanger constructed in accordance with the present invention, the illustration showing the hanger in its most expanded position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the hanger illustrated in Figure 1, the view being taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of a garment clip.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a modification of the invention, showing a modified adjusting arrangement.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of another modified adjusting arrangement.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the modification illustrated in Figure 5, the section being taken on line 66 of Figure 5.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing, the

numeral 10 illustrates in general a garment hanger of the present invention, here illustrated as comprising a main body portion and longitudinal adjusting means therefor. The said main body portion comprises an arched central portion 30 from which extend, integrally formed or otherwise, a pair of oppositely directed, out wardly and downwardly extending bars or arms 12. The arched central portion 30 of hanger 10 may be provided with a conventional, normally upwardly extending suspension hook 11, whereby the said hanger maybe suspended on a rack, nail or other suitable and desirable support in a conventional manner. It will be noted on Figure l of the drawing, that the arms there illustrated are rectangular in cross-section, and somewhat narrower than the arched central portion 30 from which they extend. The normally underside of each of the said arms 12 is referred to by the numeral 12.

A pair of identical clamp members 13 are provided, one for each of the said arms 12. Each of the said clamp members 13 has a longitudinal bore 26 therein, extending from the normally front end of each clamp member toward the normally rear of each of said clamp members 13, the length of each bore 26 being equal to the length of each of the said arms 12. Each of the said arms 12 is adapted to be entered into the bore 26 of the clamp member intended for it and is slidable longitudinally therein from a retracted position to an extended position. When each of the said clamps 13 is in a retracted position, the outer edge 32 of each arm 12 will abut wall 33 of each clamp 13 and the normally front end 31 of each of the said clamps 13 will abut edge 34 of the arched central portion 30 whereby forming a stop for each of the. said clamps 13. Each of the said bores 26 is slightly wider than each of the said arms 12 so that each arm can readily be entered into the bore of the clamp member intended for it. Edge 31 of each clamp member 13 may be provided With an inwardly extending cut-out 15 for a purpose which will hereinafter become more fully apparent.

The normally underside of each of the arms 12 is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart cut-outs or notches 16 as is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing. The normally lower jaw of each of said clamp members 13 is provided with a chamber 50 therein, in which is housed an adjustment retaining member 40, which is pivotally mounted therein on a transversely extending pivot 17. The normally rearward end 40' of member 40 is bent downwardly and outwardly to form a seat for a coil spring 19 normally urging seat 40 away from the roof of the chamber 50, the spring 19 being interposed between the spring seat and the roof of the chamber 50. The normally forward end of member 40, which terminates in a finger 17 is turned normally upwardly for removable engagement in any of the notches or cut-outs 16. As is illustrated in Figure l, the entire adjustment retaining element 40 is enclosed in housing 50 except the normally underside of spring seat 40 which projects slightly out of the chamber 50.

Secured to the normally underside of each of said clamps 13 may be a bar 20 terminating in a head 20a. Upon each of the said bars 20 may be slidably arranged a clamp 21, for a purpose which will hereinafter be more fully explained, head 20a serving as a stop for the said clamp 21.

The modified form of the invention illustrated in Figure 4 comprises a pair of arms 12a, a section of one of which is here illustrated. Inasmuch as each of the arms is identical, only one will herein be discussed in detail. A clamp 13a similar in detail to the clamp 13 hereabove described in detail having a longitudinal bore 26a extending from one end towards the other end is adapted to have arm 12 of the hanger slidably entered therein from a retracted position to an extended position. On its normally underside, arm 12a is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart .rounded recesses 16:: each adapted to receive therein selectively an adjustment retaining element such as a ball 22 seated upon the normally upper end of a coil spring 23 in recess 24 in the normally underside of clamp 13a, the other end of the said spring 23 resting upon the base 25 of the said recess.

The modification illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 differs from (the other forms hereabove disclosed in that the arm 12b may be provided with a thread 16b tl'zroughout its length to accommodate the ball 22a tu ged thereagainst by spring 23a in recess 24a.

The device is used in the following manner:

When it is desired to use the principal form of the invention, pressure against spring seat 40' and the spring 19 seated thereupon will pivotally release finger 17 from engagement with any of the recesses 16 in which it is normally positioned. By advancing each clamp forward or backward upon each arm 12, the arm may be shortened or lengthened, and release of pressure against the spring seat and the spring will releasably retain the finger in any adjusted position.

In the device illustrated in Figure 4, the clamp 13a may be slidably advanced forward or backward upon arm 12a, and the ball 22 will nest in any desired notch.

In the modification illushrated in Figures 5 and 6 the arm 12b and the interior of the clamp 13b are threaded, it will merely be necessary to thread the clamp upon the arm forward or backward to cause the ball to nest in the recesses formed by the thread. The purpose for the provision of cut-outs is to suspend shoulder straps therefrom, which are usually a part of a ladys evening gown. The provision of these cut-outs is optional.

There has thus been shown and described a simple and effective adjustable garment hanger in the principal form of its embodiment and in two modifications. Obviously other modifications will become apparent. For instance, while the drawing and specification disclose a hanger having two arms joined by a central suspension piece, a conventional hanger may be used, having a single curved arm and a curved hook in its center.

Therefore, the present disclosure is to be regarded as illustrative and descriptive of the best known forms of the invention and not as limitative or restrictive to the exact details shown, applicant reserving the right to make such changes and modifications in his invention as may come within the scope of the present claims without thereby departing either from the spirit or the scope of the present invention,

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An adjustable garment hanger comprising the combination with a garment hanger section having an arched central portion, a pair of opposed, outwardly directed, downwardly inclined arms extending therefrom, a suspension hook midway the central portion whereby the hanger section may be suspended fromv a support, and a plurality of spaced-apart notches throughout the normally underside of the arms; of means selectively adjusting the size'of the garment hanger, said adjusting means comprising a pair of elongated clamps, one for each of the arms, each of said clamps having a longitudinal bore therein extending from one end of each clamp toward the other end of each clamp, whereby dividing each clamp into a normally upper part and a normally lower part, said clamps slidable longitudinally upon the arms from a retracted position to an extended position, a chamber in the normally lower part of each of said clamps and having a roof, an adjustment retaining element pivotally mounted in each of said chambers, each of said adjustment retaining elements having two ends, one end of each of said adjustment retaining elements constituting a seat for a spring, a pair of coil springs, each of said springs having one end on each of said spring seats, the other end of each of said springs pressing against the roof of each of said chambers, whereby normally urging each of said spring seats away from each roof of said chambers, the other end of each of said adjustment retaining elements terminating in a finger, each of said'fingers normally retained in one of the notches in the arms, and manual pressure against each spring seat disengaging each finger from one of said notches for selective engagement in another of said notches.

2. The combination with a hanger having a pair of opposed, downwardly inclined, outwardly directed arms and a plurality of spaced-apart notches throughout the normally underside of the arms; of means selectively adjusting the size of the hanger, the adjusting means comprising a pair of clamps, one for each of the arms, each of said clamps having a longitudinal bore therein extending from one end of each of said clamps towards the other end of each of said clamps whereby providing each of said clamps with a normally upper part and a normally lower part, said clamps slidable longitudinally upon the arms from a retracted position to an extended position, a chamber in the normally lower part of each of said clamps and having a roof, an adjustment retaining element pivotally mounted in each of said chambers, each of said adjustment retaining elements having two ends, one end of each of said adjustment retaining elements constituting a seat for a spring, a pair of coil springs, one end of each of said coil springs seated upon each of said spring seats, the other end of each of said coil springs pressing against the roof of each of said chambers whereby normally urging each of said spring seats away from each roof, the other end of each of said adjustment retaining elements terminating in a finger, each of said fingers normally engaged in one of the notches, each of said adjustment retaining elements completely contained in each of said chambers except the normally underside of each of said spring seats and each finger, and manual pressure against said spring seats disengaging each of said fingers from one of said notches for selective engagement in another of said notches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,446,312 Usina Aug. 3, 1948 2,494,711 Kusher et al. Jan. 17, 1950 2,637,471 Goldschmidt et al May 5, 1953 2,701,083. Welker Feb. 1, 1955 

